Board approves 2011-2012 budget

Members of the Cloquet School Board approved the 2011-2012 budget Monday.

In one point of action, the board approved an increase in meal prices for the 2011-2012 school year. Prices will be raised by 5 cents to stay in compliance with The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which requires school food authorities to gradually adjust prices to meet the Federal reimbursement of a free meal.

The district actually didn’t need to raise meal prices to generate revenue.

“We wouldn’t have to raise [the prices], but with the new act in place we’re forced to,” said Business Manager Kim Josephson, “Unless this act is reversed or revised, we’ll end up doing this again next year.”

Another topic up for discussion was the implementation of summer music lessons by Middle School band director Jeff Cherne to help interested orchestra students transition into band. The board approved Cherne’s request of up to $700 in funding for these lessons “to help support [the students] transitioning to another instrument,” said Superintendent Ken Scarbrough. These lessons would be restricted to orchestra students.

In the May 23 board meeting, the board approved the employment of Daniel Fischer as the new counselor for the high school. Since that time, Fischer has accepted another position. The board then approved the employment of Afton Pender as the new counselor. Assistant Principal Connie Hyde does not forsee any problems with both High School counselors being female.

In other matters, the board:

• Accepted the resignation of Amanda Asperheim as the speech-language pathologist for the Cloquet Public Schools and approved the posting for the open position.

• Approved an additional section of kindergarten to be added at Churchill Elementary. The district will post for the open position.

• Approved Senior High School Spanish instructor Lisa South’s request to take a group of students to Costa Rica on an educational tour.

• Recognized that the district’s website has undergone recent upgrades in which the existing content will be kept the same but the new design template “will provide a fresh and modern look,” according to District Technology Coordinator Yvette Maijala in her proposal.

The next school board meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, June 27.

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